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Topic: Training: Schedule Critique Needed (Read 4036 times)

I planned my depature date for June 2st! Woot! So, I offically have two months for training. Can you guys look it over and give some advice/critique?

1) I plan on riding at least 20 miles a day at the gym on the exercise bikes. 2) On weekends, I'm going to get actual BIKE experience, doing at minimum a 60-mile day short tour. 3) In May, I'm going to a series of 60 mile bike trips with my gear (at least three).

Is that enough physical training? I know everyones different. I'm 22, 150 lbs, somewhat althetic... I expect myself to really get in shape once I start riding. But I just want to make sure I'm not being stupid. Am I heading in the right direction? Do you advise that I do more?

Also, interval training is useful mostly for racers and other competitors. It will help boost your conditioning but really isn't of much benefit to tourists.

While intervals can't replace saddle time for conditioning the butt, it helps in two areas. As DaveB notes, it helps with general conditioning. And it also seems to improve conditioning for what I'll call higher efforts. These higher efforts can include hauling a heavier load that during your training rides, or climbing hills -- in other words the things that are different between just riding your bike and touring.

Ride Lots! Too put it as simple as possible. Your actual bike on the actual roads. Not gym nonsense. Thats OK when there is three feet of snow on the ground. But spring is here and its time to ride outside. Ideally you will do intervals and hill climbs and sustained efforts and recovery rides and such. But the important part is to just ride lots. Short rides, long rides, easy rides, hard rides. Riding with your gear is probably good. 2-3 day overnight trips are also good. Just ride.

The bike looks fine to me. Young people's bodies are more forgiving than those of us over 50. Looking at that bike it looks like you can drop the seat a bit if it's too high and raise the bars for a more comfortable riding position. At that price, you can make a few component changes and still be below the cost of most new touring bikes.

It's one centimeter difference which is less than half an inch. Have the shop owner adjust it so you can ride it, and remember it will be long hours in the saddle which is different than a spin around the parking lot.